Michigan: Pro-Marijuana Group claims of getting required support

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on November 17, 2017.

Leaders of a pro-marijuana group, which has been spearheading a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana, have claimed that they have gathered enough signature to put the issue statewide in 2018 ballot. While, 252,523 votes are required to be on the ballot, the group has gathered at least 360,000 signatures.

The Committee to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol , has confirmed the development. The group now needs only about $30,000 to pay off a signature-collection vendor before its leaders can submit truckloads of signed petitions to the Michigan Secretary of State.

They would hold a press conference in Lansing November 20 before submitting the signatures to the state. They want to make it legal for adults 21 and older to be able to use marijuana with safety measures in place.

The group in Michigan was bolstered by the recent surprise success of pro-marijuana initiatives in Detroit, as despite strong opposition from Detroit City Council members and church leaders, voters passed two ballot measures by huge margins to withdraw regulation on city's medical marijuana shops.

The tough ordinance forced closure of shops/dispensaries near parks, churches, schools and day care centers. However, the voters rejected the ordinance, freezing the process of closures. 60% voters give thumbs up to allow more such facilities, while 58% favored easing of zoing rules on the businesses.